The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has unveiled an extensive operational plan to cater to millions of worshippers and pilgrims during Ramadan. This initiative aims to enhance the experience for all visitors, ensuring comfort and convenience during their religious activities.
Throughout the month, over 5.5 million iftar meals will be provided, allowing worshippers to break their fast with ease. In addition, at least 20,000 containers of Zamzam water will be available, with 33,000 fresh prayer rugs spread across the mosque’s vast courtyards.
For the elderly and those with mobility challenges, around 10,000 hand carts and 400 electric golf carts will be on hand to assist in movement within the mosque.
A new service offering five mobile tahallul (haircut) stations will be introduced to manage crowd flow while maintaining cleanliness and safety. This service includes mobile barbers to cater to pilgrims.
In a first, a luggage storage and tracking system will be implemented, with two main storage areas and six drop-off points located at the mosque’s entrances, making it easier for visitors to manage their belongings.
The Grand Mosque will also enhance services for children by establishing three children’s hosting centers, where they can engage in religious, cultural, and educational activities while their parents pray.
To support those participating in spiritual seclusion (i’tikaf), the mosque will introduce improved facilities, including designated reflection spaces and better access to services and guidance.
The Ramadan operational plan also focuses on infrastructure and environmental upgrades to ensure smooth operations. The authority has completed maintenance on essential systems such as escalators, elevators, ventilation, sound, and air conditioning to create an optimal environment for worshippers.
A specialized team will monitor weather conditions to respond quickly to changes, including rain, and to ensure visitor safety and comfort.
To aid navigation in the mosque’s vast space, hundreds of directional signs and multilingual guidance teams have been deployed. Additionally, a new “Mobile Guides” initiative will provide real-time assistance to visitors across the mosque.
Improvements in cleanliness and sanitization have been made with advanced equipment, ensuring hygiene in prayer areas, restrooms, and high-traffic zones. Cooled and non-cooled Zamzam water will be available continuously at various locations.
Cultural and educational programs will also be expanded. The “First House” exhibition, located in the mosque’s new expansion area, will showcase the history of the Kaaba through interactive displays and rare artifacts. Visitors can also tour the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa (Kaaba Covering).
A simple QR code scan will offer easy access to religious texts, prayers, and instructional videos, providing valuable spiritual guidance to all visitors.
